Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Economics 103, Courtesy of Amity Shlaes

With the skewing of the economy in favor of an interventionist administration, we're on the brink of forgetting that we once had a free market that was independent of Washington. We once had a free market that was the primary source of income for a majority of Americans, and could be again with the right people in charge.

Naturally, the wrong people seek to make you forget that fact. In their mad quest for ever more power, these people want you to forget all about your old, outdated free market thingy. That's soooo "Twentieth Century", they'll say. Here's a bright shiny new thing called "governmental command and control" that will make sure nobody ever suffers from the natural variations in market forces that we used to plan for. As long as you belong to a union or other "friendly" group, that is. See, you can even have your own automobile manufacturing company!

If you manage to think of yourself as an independent American, you're SOL.

When you're up to your ass in alligators, it's kinda hard to remember that you were originally sent to the store for a loaf of bread. Some things take precedence over others.

That's why I'm glad to allow Amity Shlaes to present today's lesson in economics. Her article in Bloomberg.com entitled "Obama Misreads Message of "Live Free of Die" outlines the tale of two states, New Hampshire and Maine, separated by not by miles, but by light years when it comes to their experiments with government and taxation.

In the face of failed Keynesian economic theory, this short treatise fits right in with the national discussion that we should be having now. After years of a declining economy under a "progressively" controlled Congress, this shouldn't be a long conversation.

After all, there are only a few economic rules that need to be understood. Rule #1 is that the free market is capable of producing all the things that modern life entails all by itself. Free people love to innovate and create new products. It's a way of channeling energy into a productive occupation that also just happens to elevate others in the process. It's a win-win scenario for freedom.

But there are people for whom the freedom of others is anathema. They just can't stand the sight of someone living without their supervision. Necessary to this warped mindset is a large ego. The desire to control others is as old as mankind itself and is the prime mover of discontent and the major cause of strife around the world today. Notice, if you will, that the most self-absorbed among us seek out political office. Now, that there is either a classic Catch-22 or a good Groucho Marx joke: if you want the job, you're automatically disqualified because you'd just misuse your power.

And *waggles a cigar menacingly* we've seen the abuse of power lately.

But again, I digress.

Kindly click on the link above to read a short history of taxation and fiscal growth seen through two very different sets of political eyes. I won't give away the ending, but the results speak for themselves.

Just as it will eventually with the nation.

Oh, and today is election day in many states. Do your civic duty even if it is just a primary.

You'll get warmed up for November.

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